Palm Beach State College has become a hiring pipeline for the nation’s No. 1 eye hospital. Twelve graduates of the Ophthalmic Medical Technology program currently work at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Palm Beach Gardens as ophthalmic technicians, comprising almost one-half of the facility’s technician staff of about 25.
“The Palm Beach State College program is very critical to our continued success,” said Anthony R. Garand, executive director of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Palm Beach Gardens and Naples. “I find that those who come through the program have a very sound foundation and practical skill set. All of them have been successful in putting what they’ve learned into practice. They are some of my best technicians.”
The Ophthalmic Medical Technology program, based on the college’s Palm Beach Gardens campus, launched in 2012 and awards a two-year associate’s degree in science. The professionally accredited program trains students to be ophthalmic medical technologists who assist eye physicians and surgeons in the evaluation of vision and treatment of patients with eye disorders. Bascom Palmer made its initial program hires in 2014 from the inaugural graduating class.
As announced last month, U.S News & World Report once again ranked Bascom Palmer as the nation’s best in ophthalmology. Recognized as a global leader in vision research, medical education and patient care, Bascom Palmer received the No. 1 ranking in 2018-19 for the 15th year in a row and the 17th time overall since the publication began surveying U.S. physicians for its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings 29 years ago.
Palm Beach Gardens native Kerri Bryant was the first graduate to be hired, and in two years she was promoted to a senior ophthalmic technician. She is the co-lead technician for the glaucoma service, and among a range of responsibilities, she helps train new technicians and manage schedules.
Second to be hired was Ryan Stanfield. His interest in eyes started when he took a job at Pearl Vision and knew from the first day that he had found his niche. His interest in the medical side of vision was growing just as he heard about PBSC’s new program.
Stanfield also has been promoted to senior ophthalmic technician and is now the co-lead technician for the retina service and lead technician for retina research. He works with doctors researching treatments or diagnostic testing and measures patients’ visual acuity according to research protocols. He also trains other research technicians.
